Photofunctional hybrids of lanthanide functionalized bio-MOF-1 for fluorescence tuning and sensing

A series of luminescent Ln 3+ @bio-MOF-1 (Ln   =   Eu, Tb, bio-MOF-1   =   Zn 8 (ad) 4 (BPDC) 6 O⋅2Me 2 NH 2 (ad   =   adeninate, BPDC   =   biphenyldicarboxylate)) are synthesized via postsynthetic cation exchange by encapsulating lanthanide ions into an anionic metal–organic framework (MOF), and their photophysical properties are studied. After loading 2-thenoyltrifluroacetone (TTA) as sensitized ligand by a gas diffusion (“ship-in-bottle”) method, it is found that the luminescent intensity of Eu 3+ is enhanced. Especially, when loading two different lanthanide cations into bio-MOF-1, the luminescent color can be tuned to close white (light pink) light output. Additionally, bio-MOF-1 and Eu 3+ @bio-MOF-1 are selected as representative samples for sensing metal ions . When bio-MOF-1 is immersed in the aqueous solutions of different metal ions , it shows highly sensitive sensing for Fe 3+ as well as Eu 3+ @bio-MOF-1 immersed in the DMF solutions of different metal ion. The results are benefit for the further application of functionalized bio-MOFs in practical fields.